For I am fresh of spirit, and resolv'd To meet all perils very constantly. Bru. Even so, Lucilius.
Cas. Now, most noble Brutus,
The gods to-day stand friendly; that we may, Lovers, in peace, lead on our days to age! But since the affairs of men rest still uncertain, Let's reason with the worst that may befall. If we do lose this battle, then is this The very last time we shall speak together': What are you then determined to do?
Bru. Even by the rule of that philosophy, By which I did blame Cato for the death Which he did give himself:-I know not how, But I do find it cowardly and vile, For fear of what might fall, so to prevent The time of life:-arming myself with patience, To stay the providence of some high powers, That govern us below.
Cas. Then, if we lose this battle,
You are contented to be led in triumph Thorough the streets of Rome?
Bru. No, Cassius, no: think not, thou noble
That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome;
Cas. Go, Pindarus, get thither on that hill; My sight was ever thick; regard Titinius, And tell me what thou not'st about the field.- [Exit Pindarus.
20 This day I breathed first: time is come round, And, where I did begin, there shall I end : My life is run his compass.-Sirrah, what news? Pind. [above.] O my lord! Cas. What news?
He bears too great a mind. But this same day 25 Pind. Titinius is enclosed round about
Must end that work, the ides of March began;
And whether we shall meet again, I know not. Therefore our everlasting farewell take:- For ever, and for ever, farewell, Cassius! If we do meet again, why we shall smile; If not, why then this parting was well inade.
With horsemen, that make to him on the spur; Yet he spurs on. -Now they are almost on him;
Cus. For ever, and for ever, farewell, Brutus! If we do meet again, we'll smile indeed;
If not, 'tis true, this parting was well made.
Bru. Why then, lead on. might know
Titinius!-Now some 'light :-O, he 'lights too: 30 He's ta'en;-and, hark, they shout for joy.
The end of this day's business, ere it come! But it sufficeth, that the day will end,
And then the end is known. -Come, ho! away!
Cas. Come down, behold no more.- O, coward that I am, to live so long, To see my best friend ta'en before my face! Re-enter Pindarus.
Come hither, sirrah : In Parthia did I take thee prisoner; And then I swore thee, saving of thy life, That whatsoever I did bid thee do,
[Exeunt. 40 Thou should'st attempt it. Come now, keep thine
Now be a freeman; and, with this good sword, That ran thro' Cæsar's bowels, search this bosom. Stand not to answer: Here, take thou the hilts; And when my face is cover'd, as 'tis now, 45 Guide thou the sword. - Cæsar, thou art reveng'd, Even with the sword that kill'd thee.
Ride, ride, Messala; let them all come down. 50 Wherenever Roman shall take note of him. [Exit.
Alarum. Enter Cassius, and Titinius.
Re-enter Titinius, with Messala.
And sudden push gives them the overthrow.
Pind. So, I am free; yet would not so have been, Durst I have done my will. O Cassius! Far from this country Pindarus shall run,
Mes. It is but change, Titinius; for Octavius
Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power, As Cassius' legions are by Antony.
Myself have to mine own turn'd enemy: This ensign here of mine was turning back; I slew the coward, and did take it from him.
Mes. Where did you leave him?
Tit. O Cassius, Brutus gave the word too early:
Who, having some advantage on Octavius, Took it too eagerly; his soldiers fell to spoil, Whilst we by Antony are all enclos'd.
Cas. O, look, Titinius, look, the villains fly! 50 Tit. These tidings will well comfort Cassius.
Tit. All disconsolate,
With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.
Mes. Is that not he, that lies upon the ground? 60 Tit. He lies not like the living. O my heart!
Mes. Is not that he? Tit. No, this was he, Messala,
i.e. I am resolved in such a case to kill myself.
Mistrust of my success hath done this deed.
I will proclaim my name about the field :- I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho! A foe to tyrants, and my country's friend; I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho!
Enter Soldiers, and fight.
Bru. And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I; Brutus, my country's friend; know me for Brutus. [Exit.
Luc. O young and noble Cato, art thou down?
Mes. Mistrust of good success hath done this O hateful error, melancholy's child! [deed. Why dost thou shew to the apt thoughts of men 10 Why, now thou dy'st as bravely as Titinius;
The things that are not? O error, soon conceiv'd, Thou never com'st unto a happy birth,
But kill'st the mother that engender'd thee.
Tit. What, Pindarus! Where artthou, Pindarus? Mes. Seek him, Titinius; whilst I go to meet 15
The noble Brutus, thrusting this report Into his ears: I may say, thrusting it; For piercing steel, and darts envenomed, Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus, As tidings of this sight.
Tit. Hie you, Messala,
And I will seek for Pindarus the while. [Exit Mes. Why didst thou send me forth, brave Cassius? Did I not meet thy friends? and did not they Put on my brows this wreath of victory,
And bid me give it thee? Didst thou not hear their
Alas, thou hast misconstrued every thing. But hold thee, take this garland on thy brow; Thy Brutus bid me give it thee, and I Will do his bidding.-Brutus, come apace, And see how I regarded Caius Cassius.- By your leave, gods:-' gods: This is a Roman's part; Come, Cassius' sword, and find Titinius' heart.
And may'st be honour'd being Cato's son. 1 Sold. Yield, or thou diest.
Luc. Only I yield to die:
There is so much, that thou wilt kill me straight; [Offering money.
Kill Brutus, and be honour'd in his death. 1 Sold. We must not.-A noble prisoner! 2 Sold. Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta'en. 1 Sold. I'll tell the news. Here comes the
Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord. Ant. Where is he?
Luc. Safe, Antony; Brutus is safe enough:
25 I dare assure thee, that no enemy
Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus: The gods defend him from so great a shame! When you do find him, or alive or dead, He will be found like Brutus, like himself. 30 Ant. Thisis not Brutus, friend; but, I assure you, A prize no less in worth: keep this man safe, Give him all kindness: I had rather have Such men my friends, than enemies. Go on, And see whe'r Brutus be alive or dead: [Dies. 35 And bring us word, unto Octavius' tent, How every thing is chanc'd.
Alarum. Enter Brutus, Messala, young Cato, Strato, Volumnius, and Lucilius. Bru. Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie? Mes. Lo, yonder: and Titinius mourning it. Bru. Titinius' face is upward. Cato. He is slain.
Look, whe'r he have not crown'd dead Cassius! Bru. Are yet two Romans living such as these?-
Thou last of all the Romans, fare thee well! It is impossible that ever Rome [tears Should breed thy fellow. -Friends, I owe more 50 To this dead man, than you shall see me pay. - I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time.- Come, therefore, and to Thassos send his body; His funeral shall not be in our camp, Lest it discomfort us. -Lucilius, come;- And come, young Cato; let us to the field.- Labeo, and Flavius, set our battles on:- 'Tis three o'clock; and, Romans, yet ere night, We shall try fortune in a second fight. [Exeunt.
Another Part of the Field. Alarum. Enter Brutus, Cato, Lucilius, and others. Bru. Yet, countrymen, O, yet, hold up your Cato. What bastard doth not? Who will go with
SCENE V. Another Part of the Field. Enter Brutus, Dardanius, Clitus, Strato, and Volumnius. Bru. Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this
rock. [lord, Cli. Statilius shew'd the torch-light: but, my He came not back, he is or ta'en, or slain. Bru. Sit thee down, Clitus: Slaying is the word; It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus.- [Whispering.
Cli. What I, my lord? No, not for all the world. Bru. Peace then, no words. Chi. I'll rather kill myself. Bru. Hark thee, Dardanius! Dar. Shall I do such a deed? Cli. O, Dardanius!
55 Cli. What ill request did Brutus make to thee? Dar. To kill him, Clitus: Look, he meditates. Cli. Now is that noble vessel full of grief,
That it runs over even at his eyes.
Bru. Come hither, good Volumnius: list a word.
60 Vol. What says my lord?
Bru. Why, this, Volumnius: The ghost of Cæsar hath appear'd to me Two several times by night: at Sardis, once; And, this last night, here in Philippi fields. 651 know, my hour is come.
Bru. Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius.
Thou see'st the world, Volumnius, how it goes; Our enemies have beat us to the pit: [Alarum.
Than tarry 'till they push us. Good Volumnius, Thou know'st, that we two went to school together; Even for that our love of old, I pray thee,
Hold thou my sword's hilt, whilst I run on it.
fi kill'd not thee with half so good a will.
[He runs on his sword, and dies. Alarum. Retreat. Enter Octarius, Antony, Messala, Lucilius, and the Army.
Octa. What man is that?
[master? Mes. My master's man. Strato, where is thy Stra. Free from the bondage you are in, Messala; The conquerors can but inake a fire of him: For Brutus only overcame himself,
Vol. That's not an office for a friend, my lord. 10 And no man else hath honour by his death.
[Alaru'n still. Cli. Fly, fly, my lord; there is no tarrying here. Bru. Farewell to you;-and you; and you, Volumnius.-
Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep; Farewell to thee too, Strato. -Countrymen, My heart doth joy, that yet, in all my life, I found no man, but he was true to ine. I shall have glory by this losing day, More than Octavius, and Mark Antony, By this vile conquest shall attain unto. So, fare you well at once; for Brutus' tongue Hath almost ended his life's history: [rest, Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would That have but labour'd to attain this hour.
[Alarum. Cry within, Fly, fly, fly. Cli. Fly, mylord, fly. [ExeuntClitus, Dar,and Vol. Bru. Hence; I will follow.
I pr'ythee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord: Thou art a fellow of a good respect; Thy life hath had some smack of honour in it: Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face, While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato? Stra. Give me your hand first: Fare you well, my lord.
Bru. Farewell, goodStrato. - Cæsar, now be still;
Luc. So Brutus should be found. I thank thee, Brutus,
That thou hast prov'd Lucilius' saying true. Octa. All that serv'd Brutus, I will entertain them,
15 Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me? Stra. Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you. Octa. Do so, good Messala. Mes. How died my master, Strato? Stra. I held the sword, and he did run on it. 20 Mes. Octavius, then take him to follow thee, That did the latest service to my master.
Ant. This was the noblest Roman of them all; All the conspirators, save only he, Did that they did in envy of great Cæsar;
25 He, only, in a general honest thought, And common good to all, made one of them. His life was gentle; and the elements So mix'd in him, that nature might stand up, And say to all the world, This was a man! 30 Octa. According to his virtue let us use him, With all respect, and rites of burial. Within my tent his bones to-night shall lie, Most like a soldier, order'd honourably.- So, call the field to rest: and let's away, 35 To part the glories of this happy day. [Exeunt.
Ambassadors from Antony to Casar, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants. The SCENE is dispersed in several parts of the Roman Empire.
That o'er the files and musters of the war Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now The office and devotion of their view Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart, Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst The buckles on his breast, reneges1 all temper: And is become the bellows and the fan,
Mes. News, my good lord, from Rome. Ant. Grates me: The sum'.
Cleo. Nay, hear them, Antony: Fulvia, perchance, is angry; or, who knows If the scarce-bearded Cæsar have not sent His powerful mandate to you, "Do this, or this;
10" Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that; "Perform't, or else we damn thee."
Cleo. Perchance,-nay, and most like, You must not stay here longer, your dismission
Tocoola gypsy's lust. - Look, where they come! 15 Is come from Cæsar; therefore hear it, Antony.
Flourish, Enter Antony and Cleopatra, with their
trains; Eunuchs fanning her. Take but good note, and you shall see in him The triple pillar of the world transform'd Into a strumpet's fool: behold and see.
Cleo. If it be love indeed, tell me how much. Ant. There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd.
Cleo. I'll set a bourn how far to be belov'd.
Where's Fulvia's process? Cæsar's, I would say?
'i. e. renounces. Gypsy is here used both in the original meaning for an Egyptian, and in its accidental sense for a bad woman. Triple is here used improperly for third, or one of three. One of the triumvirs, one of the three masters of the world. i. e. bound or limit. i. e. be brief, sum thy business in a few words.
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